Council axes references to rough sleepers in Public Spaces Protection Order

The London Borough of Hackney is to remove references to ‘rough sleepers’ from its Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), after claims that the measure criminalised the homeless.

The PSPO was intended to tackle activities – such as begging, consuming alcohol, loitering and urinating as well as rough-sleeping – that have had a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality. It covers Hackney Downs, London Fields, Broadway Market, Mare Street and Regents Canal.

Individuals in breach of the PSPO could have faced an on-the-spot penalty or £1,000 fine.

But the measure and PSPOs put forward by other councils were heavily criticised by Jon Sparkes, chief executive of charity Crisis, in an article in The Guardian.

Sparkes wrote that Charity was “deeply concerned” to see local authorities include rough sleeping among the anti-social behaviour they wanted to ban.

More than 80,000 people meanwhile supported a petition calling on the councilto “stop criminalising Hackney’s rough sleepers”.

Hackney said its amendment would mean that the PSPO “more clearly reflects the anti-social behaviour the Order is targeting and the course of action that could be taken”.

It added that the council would “continue to tackle anti-social behaviour in the area through a combination of support and enforcement”.

This would include continuing to work with the homeless charity Thames Reach to try to help vulnerable people off the street in the area of Hackney covered by the order.

Cllr Sophie Linden, Deputy Leader of Hackney, said: “People were understandably concerned by inaccurate headlines, despite the council making it clear that this order was not about targeting homeless people. Nor was it the council's response to homelessness. Anyone sleeping rough in Hackney is always offered a bed and the support and help they need. The order was never intended to punish people who have fallen on hard times, been evicted and found themselves without a roof over their heads.

“It was designed to tackle persistent anti-social behaviour in the area and nudge a handful of people who have resisted all attempts to help them off the street and out of a life of addiction. Working with street beggars, street drinkers and entrenched rough sleepers who have refused help and support is vital in both helping them and resolving unacceptable behaviour which is having a real impact on residents, businesses and visitors.”

Cllr Linden insisted that enforcement was “always going to be the last resort”.

She said: “The point of the order was to push people into treatment, and if necessary we would seek injunctions rather than fines. We have decided to remove the reference from the order so our intentions are clearer.”